Assigkoe of one-half to



(No Model.)

- J. I'. MAINS.

' RQLLBR SKATE. No.`336,579. f Patented-Feb. 243, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. MAINS, OF JEFFERSONVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES W. GRAY, OF SAME PLACE.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,579, dated February 23, 1886.

Application led September 2B, 1885. Serial No. 178,339. (No model.) i

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN F. MAINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jeffersonville, in the county of Fayette and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thcreon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to roller-skates, and more particularly to improvements inthe selfadjusting parts of the skate-hangers, also in the oiling devices, as set forth in the speciiication, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a side elevation of aroller-skate with myimprovementsembodiedtherein. The front hanger and truck are shown in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the hanger. Fig. 3 isalongitudinal section of the detachable oil-tube and elastic washer, the latter being shown in the position it occupies when the screw-plug is adjusted inward to a considerable distance.

A is the foot-plate of the skate, which may be wood or metal. The bracket or stationary portion B of the hanger is screwed to the under side of the foot-plate at the front and rear ends of the latter, and the pivoted portion C has its front and rear ends pivoted to the part B, the axial line of the bearings being inclined in the usual manner. lThe part C, as will be noticed by reference to Fig. 2, is of nearly triangular cross-section, being made thick and strong to give afirm and solid fastening to the post a.,which secures the two parts B and Ctogether. This post extends centrally through the frustunrshaped rubber spring b. and has a broad washer, c, and a screw-thread on its lower end,which enters the triangular part of C, as before stated. To adapt the stationary part B for the inverted-frustum-shaped spring b, it is formed withacup-shaped cavity, c', having side walls which retain the spring between them.

The foot-plate A in Fig. 2 is shown in dotted lines to illustrate the movement by which the spring is operated. When the foot-plate is inclined, as shown in this gure, the wall of the cup opresses against the spring b, as seen on theleftside, compressing it against the post a, and when the pressure is released the spring again recovers its normal shape, this movement being essential in allowing the operator to describe curves, Ste., and for which various kinds of springs havebeen used. In this form of spring the advantage of rotary adj ustability is apparent. As the spring may be worn by pressure against the central post, a, it can be partially rotated by simply loosening the screw-post and turning it with the thumb and fingers, so as to bringa new partin contact with the side walls of the cup c', thus allowing it to be used for a greaterlength of time. The hanger C is pivoted in reverse order at the front and rear ends, a and b', to the bracket or 'xed part B, as seen in Fig. 1.

The lubricating device consists of a large hollow screw, F, having a milled head, (so as to be easily operated by the ngers,) and a thick elastic collar or washer, fi, of rubber, under 'the head. rPhis screw is threaded only at the upper end, its lower end being snugly fitted into the hole e, leading centrally through the hangers C, as seen at front and rear in the view Fig. l. In applying the oil a portion is iirst poured into the hole @(which latterleads to the axle f) to till it to the lower end of the hollow screw F when the latter is inserted. IThe chamber e in the screw F is then filled and the latter screwed into its place. The chamber e retains the oil toa certain extent, (as the parts are airtight,) and allows the oil to gradually iind its way to the axle, thus preventing waste. When more oil is required, a slight turn is given to screw F, (and the collar z' compressed thereby,)thus forcing the oil to the axle. The collar z' prevents any escape of oil at the top of e, and also serves to retain the screw F in adjustment. The oil-hole e is inclined in the same direction with the axial line of hanger O, and extends inward from the front and rear of the two respective hangers, as seen in the View Fig. 1.

I do not claim, broadly, the combination, with the pivot-post of a skate-truck, of a rubber IOO cushion acting as alateral spring upon said pivot, as I ani aware that such a combination is old.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, in aloller-skate truck, 5 of theblacket B, the hanger C, rockingthere- 0n, a post` ce, secured to the hanger and oscillating in the bracket, a rubber cushion, b, Surrounding' the post, and the cup c', having side Walls, to eifect, in conjunction with the post, 1o the lateral compression of the cushion, and having openings to permit of a compensating longitudinal expansion of the cushion7 substantially as set forth.

2. In a rollenskate, the combination, with the hanger having a bearing for the rolleraxle and an oil-duct, e, leading to said .bearing, of a hollow screw-plug, F, longitudinally vadjustable in said duct,.and the thick elastic 

